Apparatus for attaching liner material to a base sheet

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for attaching liner material, such as fiber glass or the like, to a base sheet, the apparatus including a table having a base frame and a top pivotally interconnected with the base frame, there being means for permitting swinging movement of the top about the pivot means whereby to tilt the top and therefore, the material carried thereby being a pressure roller assembly carried by the top frame of the table and spanning the same whereby, in either a horizontal or a tilted position, the pressure roller may be utilized to press the liner material against the base sheet.

March 5, 1974 L R. EPLEY 3,795,566

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING LINER MATERIAL TO A BASE SHEET 2 Sheets-Sheet lA from 5v5.

March 5, 1974 L.. R. EPI-EY APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING LINER MATERIAL TO ABASE SHEET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June lO, 1971 mm mi 26M-H-rrrrffflmllllhl 45 56 42 l m -I f'll t 4644 56 .50 40 Ulu.l 0 c Y.5. INVENTOR. Le@ f?. Ela/@ y United States Patent 3,795,566 APPARATUSFOR ATTACHIN G LINER MATERIAL T A BASE SHEET Lee R. Epley, Kansas City,Mo., assignor to Construction Plastics, Incorporated, Kansas City, Kans.Filed June 10, 1971, Ser. No. 151,828 Int. Cl. B30!) 9/00 U.S. Cl.156-58 3 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for attaching linermaterial, such as fiber glass or the like, to a base sheet, such asmetal, the apparatus including a table having a base frame and a toppivotally interconnected with the base frame, there being means forpermitting swinging movement of the top about the pivot means whereby totilt the top and therefore, the material carried thereby being apressure roller assembly carried by the top frame of the table andspanning the same whereby, in either a horizontal or a tilted position,the pressure roller may be utilized to press the liner material againstthe base sheet.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for attaching liner material to a base sheet and particularly,liner material such as large sheets of ber glass or other comparableinsulating material which are to be attached to equally large sheets ofmetal, the lined sheets of metal then being fabricated into ductworkthrough sheet metal operations.

It has been found that due to the size of the pieces to be handled it isdiicult for a single operator, or for that matter two operators, toreadily and easily attach a lining material to large sheets of metalwhich are subsequently utilized to fabricate ductwork such as is nowused in commercial installations.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide, ina single apparatus, means whereby the base sheet, of metal or the like,may be readily placed in a position to be worked upon by a singleoperator whereby such operator may apply the lining material to the basesheet by following certain steps in utilization of the apparatus.

A most important object of this invention is to provide a table having abase frame and a top, the top having a `frame and receiving the basesheet in overlying relationship thereto, there being pivot meansinterconnecting the top of the table with the base frame, and meansactuatable by the operator to tilt the top of the table from aninitially horizontal position to an inclined position whereby the singleoperator may gain access to all areas of the large sheet of materialwhich is carried by the tabletop.

Another important aim of the invention is to provide, in conjunctionwith the table, a trip bar carried by the base frame and means couplingthe trip bar with the tabletop whereby, upon actuation of the trip bar,the tabletop may be manually swung to a selected position andretained insaid position while the liner material is attached to the base sheet,other important objects of the invention including the details ofvconstruction of the coupling means.

Yet another significant object of this invention is to provide, inconjunction with a table having ra base frame .and a swingable top, apressure roller assembly which is carried by the top frame of the table,the roller spanning the width of the table and being movable therealongupon being storage areas for said roller at each endy of the table.

ICC

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a methodlfor attaching liner material to a base sheet wherein the base sheet isplaced upon the tabletop in an initially horizontal position, the tableis then tilted to an inclined position and retained in said position,the exposed surface of the base sheet is coated with an adhesive, andthe liner is then placed over the base sheet, the pressure roller thenbeing utilized to adhere the liner to the base sheet, the table thenbeing returned to a horizontal position whereby the finished materialmay be readily removed therefrom.

Other objects of this invention include details of construction of theapparatus and additional steps in the method which will be describedhereinafter, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus,

portions being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus, the same being shownin its tilted position by dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partially in section, of thepressure roller assembly supporting apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line A5 5of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

The apparatus for attaching the liner material to a base sheet takes theform of a table 10 having a base frame 12 comprised of a plurality ofhorizontal members such as 14, and a number of vertical members 16, thebase frame 12 being provided with suitable caster wheels such as 18whereby the entire table 10 may be readily moved from point-to-point ofuse.

The table 10 is provided with a generally planar top 20 which issupported by a top frame 22 consisting of longitudinal members such as24 which are interconnected by suitable transverse members 26. The topframe 22 and, therefore, top 20, is swingable from an initiallyhorizontal position to an inclined position by 'virtue of the fact thattop frame 22 is interconnected with base frame 12 by pivot means such as28, illustrated in FIG. l, it being preferred that there be pivot meanssuch as 28 positioned at the center of top 20 as well as at each of theends thereof whereby to provide suitable support for the top frame 22and top 20 when the same are rotated about said pivot means to aninclined position.

As illustrated, the pivot means includes a pin 30 supported centrally bya bearing 32 carried by base frame 12 and received at each end thereofby bearings 34 which are in turn connected with the top frame 22. Asnoted, similar structure is provided at the center of the top frame 22as well as at each end thereof whereby to permit tilting of the top 20of the table 10 with respect to the base frame 12 thereof.

In order to control the tilting of the top 20 with respect to base frame12 and to permit tilting movement to a point selected by the operator ofthe apparatus, there is provided a trip bar 36 extending along the frontof the table 10 and pivotally coupled thereto by suitable structure, thetrip bar being swingable, for instance, from the position shown in fulllines in FIG. 2 to the position shown by dotted lines thereof and beingoperable by the foot of the user of the table 10.

The trip vbar 36 is coupled with the table top 20 by means of cables 38which are secured to the trip bar 36 adjacent each end thereof, thecables 38 each, in turn, being connected with a locking assembly broadlydesignated as '40`and best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Asimilar locking assembly such as 40 is provided at each end of the table10, only one of the same being described hereinafter.

Thus, the locking assembly 40 includes a longitudinally reciprocablelocking pin 42 which is carried by a housing 44 and biased to the left,viewing FIG. 5, by a coil spring 46 retained between walls of thehousing 44, the shiftable locking pin 42 being selectively engageablewith openings 48 provided in an elongated lock bar S0 which is carriedby the tabletop and its frame by means of a pivotal connection 52through a bracket 54 which depends from the tabletop 20, all as bestseen in FIG. of the drawings.

As is evident from the drawings and the foregoing description, when thetabletop 20 is to be swung from an initially horizontal position to aninclined position about pivot means 28, the trip bar 36 is depressedwhereby to move the same from the full-line position to the dottedlineposition of FIG. 2. Such depression serves to actnate cables 38 andthereby withdraw pins 42 against springs 46 from the hole 48 in lockingbar 50 in which they are initially positioned. While holding the pinswithdrawn from the holes in the loc-king bar, the operator of the tablemay tilt the same by pressing on the front edge of the top 20 in adownward direction whereby to rotate the same about pivot means 28 andthus swing the same to a position inclined to the horizontal as shown,for instance, by the dashed-line in FIG. 2 of the drawings. As isapparent from FGS. 2 and 5, as the table is swung to its tiltedposition, the locking bar 50 will continue to be retained, as betweenguides 56, in a position where a further opening, such as 48 therein,may then be engaged by the pin 42 when it is released for movementthereinto un-der the urging of spring 46. The locking bars 50, which arepositioned at each side of the table, will then serve to retain thetable in its inclined position and prevent downward swinging movementthereof as the same is utilized to carry out the method hereinafterdescribed.

As is apparent, once it is desired to return the table to its horizontalposition, the trip bar may again be actuated t0 withdraw the pin 42 fromthe lower holes in locking bar 50 and, by raising upon the front edge ofthe table, it can be swung to a horizontal position and be retainedtherein by virtue of engagement of the pin 42 with upper hole 48 asillustrated.

For purposes which will hereinafter be described in greater detail, thetable is provided with a pressure roller assembly, broadly designated bythe numeral 58 and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, thepresn sure roller assembly broadly including a handle 60 and a rotatableroller 62 which spans the width of the tabletop 20, there being means 64mounting the pressure roller assembly 58 on the tabletop 20 and itsframe 22.

The mounting means 64 include a trackway 66 which is secured to the topframe 22 as shown in FIG. 4, there being a trackway extending along eachedge, front and back, of the top frame 22 of the table 10.

Mounting means 64 also includes a trolley 68 having a roller 70, whichroller is received within trackway 66 whereby to permit movement of thetrolleys 68 ltherealong.

The roller 62 is carried by the trolleys 68 by means of sleeves 72 whichare telescoped into the trolleys 68, the sleeves, in turn, carrying theshaft 74 which rotatably supports the roller 62. Trolley 68 also carriesa roller guide ball assembly 76 which bears against top frame 22 at apoint below guide rail 66 whereby to stabilize the trolleys 68 as theyare moved along the front and back edges of the top frame 22 of table10.

In order to permit regulation of the pressure exerted by the roller 62,a tension spring 78 is disposed within sleeve 72, one end thereof beingconnected with a pin 80 carried by the sleeve 72, the other end thereofbeing connected with a spring adjusting screw 82 carried by trolley 68and connected with the spring 78 through a nut 84. As is apparent,rotation of the screws 82 will tend to expand '4 spring 78 therebydrawing sleeves 72 and, therefore, shaft 74 downwardly, thus causingroller 62 to exert a greater pressure downwardly toward the tabletop 20.

It is to be noted that the trackways 66 extend beyond each end of thetabletop 20 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the extensions at eachend being generally U- shaped and permitting movement of the pressureroller assembly 58 to a position of storage yas shown in the dashedlines of FIG. 1 whereby the pressure roller assembly is ont of the pathof swinging movement of the table and beyond and below either end of thetable whereby to permit ready access to the table as the followingmethod is being carried out.

The method of utilization of the table 10 in attaching liner material toa base sheet follows the sequence of initially positioning the basesheet, such as a large piece of sheet metal, upon the top 20 of table 10when the same is in a horizontal position.

The table 10is then tilted to place the sheet of base material in aninclined position, the tilting being accomplished through utilization oftrip bar 36 and its associated locking assembly 40 whereby, when thetable is swung to an inclined position it can be retained therein byvirtue of lock bars 50.

Once the base sheet of metal has been swung to an inclined position, thesame being retained on the table by means of a suitable front lip or thelike, the operator is able to apply an adhesive material to the exposedsurface of the base sheet by virtue of its position of inclination.

Since the table 10 is to be successively utilized in performing thepresent method, it is desirable to protect the top 20 from the adhesiveand there is, therefore, provided adjacent the lower portion of thetable 10 a paper roll holder 86 which carries a roll of paper 88 havinga Width equivalent to that of the top of table 20, the paper 88 beingpreferably pulled from the roll and placed in a position covering thetop of the tabletop 20 before the base sheet is initially placedthereon.

It should also be noted that, in Aorderto facilitate the placement oflarge sheets of material on the top 20 of the table 10, a roller, suchas 90, is provided adjacent each end thereof, such rollers facilitatingthe loading and unloading of large shets offlat material onto the top 20of the table 10.

Once adhesive has been applied to the exposed surface of the base sheetthe liner material can be placed thereover, it being noted in thisregard that it may be desirable to initially load the table with a sheetof metal already having the piece of liner material of an equivalentsize in overlying relationship thereto, the liner material then beingfolded back to permit application of the vadhesive and then replacedover the base sheet after the adhesive has been applied, such a mannerof operation precluding the necessity of initially loading the tablewith only the base sheet of metal and then subsequently placing therather large liner sheet thereover.

Once adhesive has been applied to the exposed surface of the base sheetand the liner material placed thereover, it is desirable to applypressure to the liner material to thoroughly secure the same to the basesheet. This is accomplished through the utilization of pressure rollerassembly S8 and, as is apparent from the drawings and foregoingdescription, the pressure roller assembly may be grasped by handle 60from its storage position, such as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1, andmoved' along the trackway 66 which is provided onthe front and backedges of the table 10, the roller 62 engaging the linermaterial andtightly pressing the same against the base sheet, the pressure beingregulated by the adjusting means hereinabove described and illustratedin FIG. 4 of the drawings. If only a single pass of the roller isnecessary it can be left in afposition of storage at theend of table 10opposite to that from its initial position and, since `it is beyond andbelow the end of the table, it will not subsequently interfere with theuse thereof.

Since it has been found desirable to reinforce the securement of theliner material to the base sheet by some mechanical means, the laminatedproduct can be retained in its inclined position atop table 10 and theliner material mechanically pinned to the base sheet as by known means.In this regard however, it should be noted that the provision of a tablewhich can be moved to an inclined position permits a single operator tonot only adhesively secure the liner material to the base sheet, but t0also mechanically pin the same thereto.

Once the pinning operation has been completed, if such operation isutilized, the table can be returned to its horizontal position throughactuation of trip bar 36, and the composite, finished unit removedtherefrom through utilization of roller 90 which facilitates movement ofthe large at piece from the table.

As is apparent, the table can then be reloaded with a succeeding basesheet and piece of liner material and the foregoing steps again followedin rapidly attaching the liner material to the base sheet. Thus there isprovided apparatus and a method whereby a single operator mayexpeditiously and economically fabricate large sheets of material byattaching liner material to the base sheet with a minimum of movementand manual operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for attaching liner material to a base sheet comprising:

a table having a base frame;

a top for said table, said top having a frame;

pivot means interconnecting the top with the base frame for permittingtilting of said top with respect to said base frame; and

means for locking the top in a selected, tilted position,

said means including a lock bar swingably carried by said top frame anddepending therefrom, there being a plurality of holes formed in saidlock bar, a shiftable pin carried by the base frame and selectivelyengageable with the holes in said lock bar and a trip bar carried by thebase frame and coupled with said pin for shifting the latter.

2. Apparatus for attaching liner material to a base sheet, comprising:

a table having a base frame;

a top for said table having a frame;

a pressure roller assembly carried by said top frame,

said pressure roller assembly including a roller spanning the width ofsaid table and means mounting said roller on said top frame for movementalong the length of said table top, said mounting means including atrackway on the front and back of the table and extending the lengththereof and a trolley received by each of said trackways, said trolleyssupporting said roller over said table top, the roller being verticallyadjustable with respect to said trolleys whereby to regulate theposition of the roller with respect to the table top.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said trackways extending beyondthe ends of said table to permit movement of the roller to a position ofstorage beyond and below either end of the table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,792,209 2/ 1931 Allison 269-3232,311,581 2/1943 Simmon 250-57 3,358,596 12/1967 Davis lOl- 2693,388,659 6/1968 Hu lOl-269 3,633,505 l/l972 Ferrari lOl--269 WILLIAM D.MARTIN, Primary Examiner I. A. BELL, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

